Women with postpartum weight retention have delayed wake times and decreased sleep efficiency during the perinatal period: a brief report

Nov 19, 2016Sleep health

Women with Postpartum Weight Retention Have Later Wake Times and Poorer Sleep Quality Around Childbirth

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Abstract

Women with postpartum weight retention (PPWR) had an average weight gain of 6.3±8.8 kg at 2 weeks postpartum.

PPWR+ women (38% of participants) experienced later sleep offset times compared to those without PPWR.
Lower sleep efficiency was observed in PPWR+ women at all time points measured.
PPWR+ women were more likely to report snoring during pregnancy.
Average weight gain at 16 weeks postpartum was 5.2±8.5 kg, indicating sustained weight increase.

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OBJECTIVE: This study assessed sleep and circadian rhythms across the perinatal period in new mothers with and without postpartum weight retention (PPWR).

METHODS: Weight was measured at 2 and 16 weeks postpartum in 21 women with previous major depression or bipolar disorder (mean age 29.5±4.7 years) who self-reported pre-pregnancy weight during third trimester. Wrist actigraphy was acquired at 33 weeks gestation and postpartum weeks 2, 6, and 16. Circadian phase was measured at 33 weeks gestation and 6 weeks postpartum. The Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory were completed during third trimester. Women were classified as PPWR+ if weight at 16 weeks postpartum exceeded pre-pregnancy weight by ≥5kg.

RESULTS: Compared to pre-pregnancy, average weight gain (±SD) was 6.3±8.8 kg at 2 weeks postpartum and 5.2±8.5 kg at 16 weeks postpartum. ANOVA showed that PPWR+ women (n=8, 38%) had later sleep offset times and lower sleep efficiencies than PPWR- women at all time points and were more likely to report snoring during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS: Data from this small sample showed that women with PPWR had more disturbed sleep and later wake times and were more likely to report symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing. Future work in larger samples should examine whether interventions to improve sleep during pregnancy decreases PPWR.

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Women with postpartum weight retention have delayed wake times and decreased sleep efficiency during the perinatal period: a brief report

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